The Jayhawks were forced to do so without leading scorer and rebounder Danielle McCray. The sophomore standout stayed in warmups on the KU bench with a stress reaction in her leg. She is day-to-day, as the injury is short of a stress fracture.

The win improves KU to 8-1 on the season as the Jayhawks embark on a two-game in California, taking on San Jose State Wednesday night and then 11th-ranked Cal two nights later in Berkeley.

KU led 34-28 at the half, as the Highlanders were deflated a bit before the break when leading scorer, rebounder and reigning Big Sky Player of the Year Kemie Nkele left the game with an apparent knee injury after getting tangled up with Taylor McIntosh on a loose ball play.

The Jayhawks ultimately pulled away late thanks to a 9-1 run, cracking open an otherwise offensively sloppy second stanza.

McIntosh finished the game with 14 points and eight rebounds, while LaChelda Jacobs scored nine off the bench.

For more on Sunday night's game, read tomorrow's Journal-World and log back onto KUSports.com.